Recalled Johnson & Johnson Tylenol Products Being Investigated

Last week, Tylenol and around 40 varieties of over-the-counter cold medicines for children by Johnson and Johnson were recalled in the U.S. and 11 other countries. The Food and Drug Administration found out that the ingredients used were contaminated with bacteria.

FDA inspectors visited the plant in middle of April and concluded their inspection Friday. J&J issued its “voluntary” recall later that night.

The report that the FDA issued last Tuesday says that inspectors found thick dust, grime and contaminated ingredients at the J&J plant that produces children’s Tylenol and dozens of other products recalled last week. Then, some of the products may contain a higher concentration of active ingredients than is specified on the label.

FDA also noted that the company did not have laboratory facilities to test drug ingredients and they failed to follow up on customer complaints. Last year, there have been 46 complaints about “black or dark specks” in their Tylenol products but J&J did not do anything about it.

Moreover, inspectors found some pieces of equipment covered with thick layers of dust, while others were held together with duct tape.

The U.S. congressional committee has launched an investigation regarding this issue. They are expecting to hold a hearing in the coming weeks. On Thursday, the panel requested information from Johnson & Johnson’s drug manufacturing division, McNeil PPC, and the Food & Drug Administration to provide information to reveal what prompted the recall and are the effect it may cause to those children who may have taken the recalled medicines.

“We are deeply concerned about the recall of popular pediatric medications widely used by infants and children across the country,” Committee Chairman Edolphus Towns, a New York Democrat, and the panel’s ranking Republican, Darrell Issa of California, said in a release.

“When a recall of this nature occurs, it is our responsibility to bring attention to the issue as a public service and to fulfill our oversight responsibility by asking tough questions about the conditions of the manufacturing plant and controls put in place by the drug company’s management, and about whether FDA’s inspection and recall procedures were sufficient,” Towns and Issa said.

The recalled products include children and infant formulations of Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl. If your child has a fever, you can always switch to generic brands.

Yes, you can receive either a refund for the average retail price or a coupon for a free replacement when the medication becomes available. Just visit www.mcneilproductrecall.com.

To view the recalled products, click here.